MiSide

The hybrid of horror and dating simulator MiSide offers a kaleidoscope of multi-genre mini-games — from classic puzzles to shooter elements, along with a variety of settings — from visual novels to frightening segments in the style of P.T. The game's highlight is the intense transformation of both gameplay approaches and visual style. Finding themselves inside yet another virtual world, the player meets a character named Mita, who loves them, and gradually immerses into a tense narrative with choices that affect the plot's development and several endings. On a deeper level, the game raises questions of loneliness and escapism.

The plot of MiSide is a story within a story. The main character is an ordinary modern person in an endless life cycle of "home-work-home." They find solace in a mobile tamagotchi game, where they take care of a virtual girl named Mita, helping her with everyday chores: grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking.

Unexpectedly, the hero finds themselves inside the game, where they personally meet Mita. Together, they continue to carry out daily tasks, communicate, and have fun. However, gradually the hero begins to tire of the simulator. Despite the bright and cheerful world, the fear of change proves stronger, and they decide to return to their routine. This creates a sharp conflict, as Mita is not willing to let them go.

During an attempt to escape, the hero unexpectedly comes across a ring that allows them to move through other versions of the game, earlier and more bug-ridden, where they find other — different — versions of Mita. Among them is the relaxed Sleepy Mita, who needs motivation; the charming Cap Mita, who loves music and fun; the intellectual Kind Mita, eager to help the hero; and the small damaged Mita: a tragic character who evokes both fear and pity. To some extent, they all realize their role and the possibility (or lack thereof) of realizing themselves as a program to entertain the player, which often creates creepy moments.

The main antagonist is Crazy Mita, with whom it all began. She is unique in that she moves freely between different versions of the game, possesses full self-awareness, and is motivated to overcome her loneliness at any cost. After revealing the true nature of the main Mita and a full-action finale, the player will see one of three fundamentally different endings.

The plot of MiSide touches on deep themes, prompting reflection on one’s own life and choices within it. The authors intentionally blurred the line between the player and the character, actively breaking the fourth wall. Characters often address the player directly, calling them "the player," making the experience more personal. Dialogues shift in tone from sweet and everyday to anxious and frightening. Especially noteworthy are the conversations with different versions of Mita, each with their own distinctive communication style.

The action unfolds in Mita's house, which consists of four rooms, but only in the "final version of the game." Earlier versions, in which the player finds themselves, undergo transformations, adapting to the character of each heroine. The interiors are intentionally created to be contrasting: rooms designed in pastel colors and filled with cute and cozy items unexpectedly transform and are abundant with sinister details.

The houses in "other versions of the game" can look either cozy or frightening, reflecting both the personality of this Mita and the "status of the game" — from completed to unfinished versions. The atmosphere of suspense is heightened through books on the shelves ("Run while you can," "You are my little mistake," "No, it's a trap!"), videotapes with people's names, figurines that always watch the player, and other elements. The spaces also change dynamically; upon returning to already familiar rooms, the player will find unfamiliar details — from unknown interior items to different photographs in frames.

As the plot develops, new locations open up: basements, spiraling spaces in the spirit of Control, and "backrooms" — areas beyond ordinary rooms where other characters can be encountered. The developers boldly experiment with formats, combining 3D spaces and 2D segments in the style of visual novels.

The gameplay of MiSide is based on a wide range of mini-games covering many genres: arcades, shooters, racing, fighting games, puzzles, and even RPGs. Each mini-game is implemented in its own way and provides different feedback: from a shooter in the style of Doom to a DJ adjusting an equalizer; from assembling parts of a drawing to chopping vegetables; from "Snake" on an arcade machine to sorting figurines into boxes; from controlling a small spaceship to disassembling cartridges.

Despite the overall simplicity, the mini-games create a sense of constant experimentation and make the gameplay engaging and unpredictable. The difficulty level of MiSide is low, and the elements are intuitive, maintaining a freshness of experience. The organic integration of mini-games into the plot stands out: they are not just entertainment but elements that drive the story forward.

In terms of horror, MiSide employs familiar techniques: a looped corridor that gets darker with each pass (a reference to P.T.), mannequins that you can't turn your back on, jump scares in the right places, eerie facial animations, and the antagonist's creepy voice, terrifying darkness, scary faces, ambiguity, and more. But MiSide does not focus solely on scaring the player; it quickly shifts to a new aspect.

MiSide relies little on traditional horror elements, emphasizing psychological impact on the player's mind through the narrative's meaning. The developers skillfully manage the pacing of the story, alternating tense moments with breaks, allowing players to reflect on what is happening without losing engagement.

The gameplay includes movement, exploration of various realities, solving puzzles, and interacting with different versions of Mita, participating in action segments. A variety of techniques are used to convey hints and context: from "dancing subtitles" that reflect the mood to intentional "glitches" and "breakdowns." The artificiality of the environment is emphasized by excellently visualized "spatial distortions."

The diversity of gameplay elements does not seem chaotic — each is in its place and serves the overall concept, creating a cohesive and captivating narrative about escaping reality and finding oneself in the virtual world.